Myths abound regarding cranberries' growth habitat. They are not grown in water in fact, they can't even survive in water. Cranberries grow on low, trailing vines that grow in bogs. These bogs are dry during the growing season, and flooded only during harvesting, which also helps protect the vines against cold winter temperatures.

Availability

• Harvested from September through late October, cranberries are at their peak from October to December.
• Sweetened and dried cranberries are available year-round, perfect for snacking!

Purchasing

• Cranberries are found in a range of shades, from light to dark red to nearly black. This color range is not an indicator of ripeness.
• Since cranberries are generally sold in 340g bags, it is not possible to pick through them. Examine the bags and select one that contains the brightest, most intensely coloured berries.
• Avoid bags that contain cranberries that appear shrivelled, soft, or decayed.

Storage

• Store fresh cranberries in an airtight plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. They can also keep in the freezer for up to 1 year.
• To prevent premature spoilage, don't wash cranberries until ready to use.

Preparation/Cooking

• One 340 g bag will yield approximately three cups of whole berries. Wash cranberries upon use. Pick off any stems and discard berries that are shrivelled.
• If using frozen cranberries, there's no need to defrost before adding to a recipe.
• In a hurry? Use a food processor fitted with a metal blade to quickly chop fresh or frozen cranberries.
• Add a teaspoon of vegetable oil to simmering cranberries to prevent them from boiling over.
• Substitute dried cranberries in recipes that call for dried currants.
• When cooking fresh cranberries, stop cooking once they pop, further cooking will make them mushy and bitter tasting.

Tips

• Have a ton of leftover cranberries? Give your Christmas tree a nostalgic look by stringing together cranberries - the kids will love to help!
• Poke cranberries onto toothpicks for serving hors d'oevres. It will give your trays a nice touch and prevent guests from accidentally swallowing toothpicks.